BEVERLY, Mass. - Senior defensive end Kevin Eagan (West Hartford, Conn.) and senior tight end and longsnapper Taylor Allen (Westboro, Mass.) were among the list of 10 NCAA Division III football players to sign undrafted rookie contracts with NFL teams following this past week's NFL Draft.

Eagan is reported to have signed with the Indianapolis Colts while Allen joins the Jacksonville Jaguars.  The undrafted rookie contracts are traditionally three-year, non-guaranteed deals with small signing bonuses.  WIth the expansion of NFL training camp rosters, opportunities for DIII players increased as well. 

Eagan and Allen are the first Endicott football players to enter the professional ranks and join the short list of Gulls across all sports to continue their athletic careers past the collegiate level. 

After receiving Preseason All-America recognition from Concensus Draft Services and D3 Senior Classic prior to the start of the 2011 season, Eagan capped off his standout four-year Endicott career by recording 104 tackles, 23.0 tackles for a loss, and 8.5 sacks in his senior year.  He forced three fumbles, recovered three fumbles and had three interceptions.  He was named the a BSN All-America Second Teamer, NEFC Boyd Division and ECAC DIII North Defensive Player of the Year, and All-New England by the New England Football Writers. 

Eagan wraps up his career as the program leader in tackles (371), unassisted tackles (186), assisted tackles (185), tackles for a loss (70.0), sacks (23.5), forced fumbles (7), and fumble recoveries (7).

Allen also received Preseason All-America accolades from Concensus Draft Services and D3ProDay.com as the tight end went on to record 35 catches for 482 yards and six touchdowns in his final season.  He also handled all the longsnapper duties.  Allen was named a NEFC Boyd First Team Tight End and BSN recognized him to their All-America team at season's end. 

For his career, Allen finished with 74 receptions, 987 receiving yards, and 15 touchdowns.  His 15 touchdown catches are a program best while he ranks top-10 in recpetions and receiving yards.

There was only one player from NCAA DIII to be drafted in the seven-round NFL Draft.  Albion cornerback Chris Greenwood, the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year, was drafted in the fifth round (148th overall) by the Detroit Lions.

Below is the list of NCAA DIII football players reportedly to have hooked up with NFL teams:


Portions of this release taken from D3Football.com release